Senator Thompson Requests Albany Lawmakers Amend Brownfields Legislation
March 31, 2008
(Albany, N.Y.) Today, New York State Senator Antoine Thompson (D- Parts of Erie & Niagara Counties), along with senate colleagues and environmental advocates, urged state legislators to amend the Brownfields legislation. Senator Thompson, the ranking Democrat for the New York State Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, is also calling for restoration of funding for the Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Program.
“Many business leaders, environmental groups, and local governments are waiting for New York State leaders to amend the Brownfields Law,” said Senator Thompson. “The law is critical to the economic growth of Upstate and New York as a whole.”
“Continued funding of the BOA Program is critical to revitalizing the economically challenged communities burdened by multiple brownfield sites. Cutting funding to this program stands in stark contrast to the $100,000,000 of brownfield tax credits given to projects that do not need them,” added Mathy Stanislaus, Co-Director of the New Partners for Community Revitalization.
City of Niagara Falls’ Mayor, Paul Dyster stated; “When a community suffers an environmental disaster as a result of a flood, or a tornado, or a hurricane, we all know what response we expect from government. We expect rapid action to assess the damage, map out a strategy, and execute a plan to get the community back up on its feet. We would settle for nothing less.”
Photo: New York State Senator Antoine Thompson
H2M Participated In The LI Works Coalition S.M.A.R.T. Expo
March 31, 2008
(Melville, NY) – H2M, a multi-disciplined Engineering & Architectural service firm participated in the Long Island Works Coalition S.M.A.R.T. EXPO on March 27. The Long Island Works Coalition Junior Achievement of New York and Motorola, Inc. partnered to bring the 2008 Science, Math, Art, Reading & Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) Expo to middle school students on Long Island.
More than 400 Long Island middle school students spent the day at the Huntington Hilton, visiting 20 interactive, hands-on S.M.A.R.T. booths hosted by 20 Long Island companies. Students were inspired to explore and develop critical thinking and creative problem solving skills using the five S.M.A.R.T. disciplines, Science, Math, Art, Reading and Technology. The S.M.A.R.T. Expo also helped young people gain insight into what it takes to succeed in the workplace by teaching them how to interact and communicate with others. The Long Island Works Coalition is Long Island’s first comprehensive effort to forge collaborative working relationships between employers and the educational community.
Booth presenters gave the students an overview of their businesses, their job descriptions and their own career paths. As well as an activity that showed the students what a career in that field would be like.
H2M assisted the “Office of the Profession” booth at the SMART Expo. H2M’s activity demonstrated the basic fundamentals of design, drafting and architecture. The students that visited the booth were divided into 2 teams. Each team was given wooden blocks, paper and pencils. Their task was to construct a free form abstract design out blocks, and then they had to draw the structure simulating “plans and architectural specs.” When finished the two teams exchanged their “blue prints,” and tried to reconstruct the other teams design.
“Students were given an exercise that demonstrated much of what an architect does,” said Ronald B. Lanner, Registered Architect, LEED AP, and Senior Architect at H2M, who hosted this activity at one of the booths. Along with Mr. Lanner there were three project coordinators from H2M that helped instruct the students at the SMART Expo, Jennifer Curtin, Adam Post and Jessica Soskil.
For further information about H2M please call 631-756-8000 or visit the website at www.h2m.com.
Founded in 1933, H2M has grown to be one of the most respected professional consulting firms in the Northeast, providing full-service engineering, architecture, environmental services, and laboratory analysis. H2M consists of Holzmacher, McLendon & Murrell, P.C., H2M Labs, Inc., H2M Associates, Inc., H2M Architects & Engineers, Inc.; and has offices in Melville, New York and Totowa, New Jersey.
Senator Aubertine Criticizes Water Findings
March 31, 2008
(Albany, N.Y.) Senator Darrel J. Aubertine (D – Cape Vincent, photo left) is calling on the International Joint Commission (IJC), which is reviewing solutions to the water level problems in the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes, to approve a previously agreed upon plan to return the waterways to even and consistent levels.
“To approve Plan B+ would turn the St. Lawrence River back to a more natural state and would be much more predictable as far as water levels,” said Senator Aubertine.
The recent IJC report calling for more input and study was met with harsh criticism by some. Aubertine says continuing to study the issue means the Commission “wants the issue more than the solution.”
Aubertine says there is already an agreed upon solution which would meet the objectives of all involved along New York’s northern border. Aubertine asserts the Commission members are on a fishing expedition.
“I’ve lived my entire life along the St. Lawrence Seaway and on the shores of Lake Ontario. I understand the economic impacts,” Aubertine said. “I don’t know how much more input people in organizations could give to the IJC. It’s as though they’re fishing just for the input that they want. Until they get it they are going to continue to fish.”
Aubertine also sees the waterway from a personal perspective.
“I enjoy the St. Lawrence River,” Aubertine said. “I want to see this river looked at as more than just a canal, as some people might look at it. Given the time and resources that are available to the IJC, I am just extremely disappointed in the lack of decisions that they’re making.”
Aubertine says the Commission members are seeking answers that do not exist.
“The IJC has chosen to essentially maintain the status quo after having spent $20 million and five years trying to come up with an alternative plan,” Aubertine said. “It’s just disheartening that after this much time and effort we come up with this Plan 2007, which again, claims to need more input and study.”
Aubertine says this process is not advancing the mission of the IJC, which first started developing this plan on July 2, 1956. Aubertine says everyone who wants to have their voices heard has already spoken to the IJC.
“Everyone who has a vested interest in and along the seaway and the Great Lakes on each side of the international border have had ample opportunity for input. I can’t believe that the IJC has not heard from every interested party from the commercial shippers to the sportsmen to the recreational users to those that live along the river and the lakes.”
Photo: Assemblyman Darrel J. Aubertine
The First Annual Ride for Toys of Hope
March 28, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) A little over 14 years ago, a young woman here on Long Island named Melissa Doktofsky saw a need. She realized that for many needy or homeless kids, the holidays were not something that brought a lot of joy. So back in 1994, Melissa began purchasing toys and delivering them to shelters, community centers and the homes of needy families. She did this out of her own pocket on her own time. But as time passed, she saw that the need was larger than she could fill herself so she began to reach out to local individuals and businesses to donate toys and help deliver them.
Thus began Toys of Hope. Today, Toys of Hope is a year round organization that provides many services to Long Island’s needy and homeless. Not just toys anymore, Toys of Hope also provides books, school supplies, clothing and other necessities to families, helping them become more self-sufficient, thereby improving the lives of their children. Understanding the joy a pet can give a family, Toys of Hope runs a program called Poor Paws which delivers donated pet food and supplies so families never have to make the difficult choice of feeding their pets or themselves.
There are a number of programs run by Toys of Hope ranging from their Literacy Program to private tennis lessons for Long Island’s underprivileged kids.
Toys of Hope operates year round and is completely volunteer driven. There are no paid employees and ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF ALL FUNDS CONTRIBUTED GO TOWARDS HELPING LONG ISLAND’S NEEDY CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR PETS.
That’s right. Every dollar, every dime. Goes to the ones that really need it.
If you live in or are going to be in the New York Area on Sunday June 1st, please mark your calendar now and join us for what is going to be an amazing day and a truly wonderful event. The First Annual Toys of Hope Motorcycle Run and Benefit.
If you are not in the area, you can make a donation to Toys of Hope. You can donate online at their website, www.toysofhope.org. Your donation is tax-deductible and every dime goes to the ones that really need it.
Hosted By:: Full Throttle NY/NE, Jade & The Lizard.
When: Sunday Jun 01, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Where:: Segesta Pizza - Levittown & Knockouts Bohemia.
1400 Lakeland Avenue, Bohemia, NY 11716
ABBA Concert Coming to The Patchogue Theatre in April
March 27, 2008
(Patchogue, N.Y.) BJM Entertainment Group is presenting the ultimate ABBA concert, Live at the Patchogue Theatre for Performing Arts. Dust off your disco boots and leisure suits- the 70’s are back tonight. Abracadabra- the ultimate ABBA concert will performing live at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, Friday April 11th at 7pm.
Truly a dazzling show, produced and delivered with such energy and detail that fans have sworn that the original ABBA members have actually reunited. Performing 20 of ABBA’s greatest hits from 1973 through 1983 Abracadabra – the ultimate ABBA concert, precisely recreates all of the excitement and passion of their record-breaking 1979-80 world concert tour experience. “Dancing Queen”, “Take a Chance on Me”, “Fernando”, “Waterloo”, and “Super Trouper” are all the songs you will remember and love.
The impact of the vocals alone will leave you mesmerized. Backed by the success of the hit Broadway musical “MAMMA MIA”, interest in the music of the third most successful pop group of all time has reached another zenith. This USA production has toured both coasts, filling showrooms from Atlantic City to Orlando, New York to Los Angeles, and is a MUST SEE show for every generation of fun loving ABBA fans.
TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE
Tickets $30 / $ 37.50 / $45
available at the box office, by phone or online
Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts
71 East Main Street,
Patchogue
631.207.1313
www.PatchogueTheatre.com
The ultimate ABBA concert, Live!
At the Patchogue Theatre for Performing Arts
April 11th at 7:00 PM
ABBA was a Swedish Edison award and Eurovision winning pop/dance group active between 1972 and 1982. The quartet was formed through the friendship of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and also consists of Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog. The band members were at one time married respectively, and together they have topped the charts worldwide from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s.
For a complete listing of the upcoming shows at the Patchogue Theatre, please visit www.patchoguetheatre.com
Innovative Bioengineering Research at Dowling College
March 27, 2008
(Oakdale, N.Y.) Dowling College is becoming known as a center for innovative Bioengineering and Biotechnological research on Long Island and a team of Professors has now developed a new way of designing experiments for designing the media for fermentation process. The work, co-authored by Dr. Fred Rispoli of the Department of Mathematics and Dr. Vishal Shah of Biology Department, has been published in the journal Biotechnology Progress and the Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology.
The team reports the modification of the method used for the design of experiments that is widely used in pharmaceutical and other industries to suit the biotechnology industry. The modified method increases the reliability of the results and provides more information on the influence of different nutrient component on the production while reducing the number of experiments that one would need to perform. The research focused on finding the right combination of various nutrient ingredients for maximum production of an enzyme from fungi. Earlier last year, team of undergraduate students and Dr. Shah reported the process of making biosurfactants from restaurant waste oil.
These projects provide a unique opportunity to the undergraduate students to gain industrially and academically relevant research experience. Dr. Rispoli, Director of the new B.S. program in Applied Math feels, “The research we are carrying out will give the students who will enroll in the new program a chance to complement their learning with research experience.” Dr. Shah insists, “That by allowing students to be involved in peer-reviewed innovative research, graduates that are well grounded in both the theoretical and research aspect of the subject can be developed.”
The new program of B.S. in Applied Math, Bioengineering track will be offered starting Fall 2008. This new program is intended to train students in the application of the life sciences and mathematics to define and solve problems in biology, medicine, healthcare, and other fields. Upon completion, students may pursue careers in areas such as pharmaceutical research, industrial microbiology, and biotechnology. For further details on the program or research, please contact Dr. Fred Rispoli at rispolif(at)dowling.edu or Dr. Shah at ShahV(at)dowling.edu.
About Dowling College
Dowling College is an independent, coeducational college that serves more than 6,500 students at its historic Rudolph Campus on the banks of the Connetquot River in Oakdale, NY, and the 105-acre Brookhaven Campus in eastern Long Island and a business center located near the Nassau-Suffolk border in Melville. Dowling offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in several disciplines through its four schools: Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Education. http://www.dowling.edu
Silverman Media & Marketing Group Promotes Erica Quagliata
March 27, 2008
(Woodbury, N.Y.) Erica Quagliata of Dix Hills, NY, who joined the Silverman Media & Marketing Group public relations agency as an intern in August 2007 has been promoted to account executive & internship coordinator from assistant account executive, it was announced today by Ira H. Silverman, the firm’s head coach.
In her new role, Quagliata will be responsible for implementing publicity and promotion campaigns, planning and managing special events and overseeing the agency’s year-round internship program. Among the clients she will service are the Head Injury Association (based in Commack, LI, NY), Manhattan-headquartered Grandstand Sports & Memorabilia, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Greater NY Chapter, the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund (NYC-based) and Miggle Toys (located in Chicago).
“Erica has shown tremendous growth in the seven months she has been with us,” stated Silverman. “Not only has she demonstrated remarkable success in media placement and event organization, but she possesses outstanding ‘people skills’ that have allowed her to enlarge and expand our internship program in just the past several months.”
A graduate of the University of Albany with a BA degree in English, Quagliata served as event chairperson of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority at Albany.
About Silverman Media & Marketing Group (SMMG)
SMMG was founded in 1996 in New York City, and moved to Woodbury in spring 2002. The company provides six distinct areas of specialty: public relations, integrated marketing, special event creation & management, celebrity representation, charitable foundation development and creative services. Most of the agency’s work is in the areas of sports, entertainment, non-profit organizations, new product introductions, books & authors, travel & leisure and apparel. The firm’s website is www.silverman-media.com.
Texas Patient Wins Landmark Acquittal in Medical Marijuana Case
March 27, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) A Texas patient who uses medical marijuana to treat the symptoms of HIV won acquittal on marijuana possession charges March 25 based on a “necessity defense.” Though such a defense - which requires the defendant to establish that an otherwise illegal act was necessary to avoid imminent harm more serious than the harm prevented by the law he or she broke - has rarely been successful in Texas, the jury took just 11 minutes to acquit Tim Stevens, 53. The trial was hotly contested.
Stevens had never been in trouble until Amarillo police arrested him for possessing less than 4 grams of marijuana. As a result of his HIV infection, Stevens suffers from nausea and cyclical vomiting syndrome, a condition so severe that he has required hospitalization and blood transfusions in the past.
Extensive research has established medical marijuana as an effective treatment for nausea and vomiting associated with HIV/AIDS and cancer chemotherapy, uses recently acknowledged by the prestigious American College of Physicians. Key in establishing Stevens’ medical necessity was the testimony of Dr. Steve Jenison, medical director of the Infectious Diseases Bureau for the state of New Mexico’s Department of Health.
“This case proved to be a testing ground for public attitudes toward medical marijuana,” said attorney Jeff Blackburn, who represented Stevens. “Even in a very conservative part of a very conservative state, jurors were willing to listen to the facts about medical marijuana and give Tim a break, and I hope this case will help to create a trend in Texas.”
“The common sense and decency exhibited by this Amarillo jury is typical of what we see from voters around the country,” said Ray Warren, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., and a former North Carolina Superior Court judge. “The American public doesn’t want to see seriously ill patients arrested and jailed for simply trying to stay alive with the help of medical marijuana. It’s time for legislators in Texas and around the country to follow the public’s lead and take action to protect patients, so that no one battling a life-threatening illness has to live in fear of arrest.”
With more than 23,000 members and 180,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit http://MarijuanaPolicy.org.
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Question Of The Day Interactive Book Launch Event to Benefit Toys of Hope Children’s Charity
March 27, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Sunday, April 13, 5:00 PM, author Al Katkowsky launches Question of the Day at Borders Books and Music, Westbury, NY. All author proceeds from this unique event will go to Toys of Hope, a year round children’s charity that uses one hundred percent of funds received to directly assist its beneficiaries.
As theater has become known as a safe place to do dangerous things, Katkowsky’s interactive book is a tool where readers can learn about themselves. Questions from the book provide opportunities for revelation. The first question immediately sets the tone: Who do you owe in life that you can never repay? Each question provides a forum to share as much as one would like while playfully daring further exploration. Here is what some have already said about this unique book:
“Intelligent, witty and a great conversation piece”. - Carol Hoenig, Huffington Post blogger and author of Without Grace
“I carry it around because I know it’s a great conversation starter. So much can be revealed…so many stories can come out of Question and it is exciting knowing that you hold the power in the book.” - Johanna Decal; Axis Promotions, NYC
About the Author
Al Katkowsky is a singer, songwriter, musician and voiceover artist who partially subsidizes his modest demands for food and shelter by working in the restaurant business. He has performed his music in clubs and colleges all over the United States and overseas and is listed in the Internet Movie Database. Al’s extensive stage and media experience qualifies him to facilitate play among first-time users and potential buyers. For more, visit www.questionofthedaybook.com.
About Toys of Hope
Toys of Hope president and founder, Melissa Doktofsky, is well-known on Long Island for her selfless efforts. Her work has been featured in Newsday and The New York Times, News12 and WCBS News2. Contact them online at www.toysofhope.org
Photo: Borders Books (Westbury)
9th Annual New York Bravest Night of Comedy
March 26, 2008
(Levittown NY) On April 20th 2007 at Governor‘s Comedy Club, 6 Funny NYC Firefighters along with a professional comedian will take the stage for the 9th Annual NY’s Bravest Night of Comedy to benefit the Thomas Elsasser Scholarship Fund for widows and children of FDNY members who die outside the line of duty.
The Thomas Elsasser scholarship fund is for widows and children of FDNY menbers who die non line of duty. When a firefighter makes the supreme sacrifice while working his family will be taken care of financially by the city. If a firefighters just passes away at home the pain and suffering are the same but the benefits are drastically reduced. Back in 1997 Firefighter James Halverson was jogging on the track at Centereach HS when a deranged teenager walked up to him and shot James in the chest. At the time of his death James Halverson had 2 years on the job and his wife Rosalie was pregnant with twins. This fund will assure that children like James & Rosalie Halverson’s twin girls and many others like them will get a good education.
web page- www.BravestNightofComedy.com
Event Information:
Sunday April 20th at 7pm
9th annual NY’s Bravest Night of Comedy
Governor’s Comedy Club
90 Division Avenue
Levittown NY 11756
Tickets $20 tax deductible donation
Box Office (516) 731-3358 to reserve your seat
Featuring New York City Firefighters:
Billy Bingo ret L 126,
Steve Alleva Ladder 7,
Kevin Seaman Ladder 4,
Jarrett Kowtorski Ladder 135,
Brian Finley Ladder 7,
Ed Sullivan ret Engine 211
Headlining is Darrell Hammond from Saturday Night LIVE
Event contact information
www.BravestNightofComedy.com
Billy Bingo nycbillybingo@aol.com
631 764-3757
Thomas Elsasser Fund contact number 212 683-4UFA
Sheila Pettit c/o
The Uniformed Firefighters Association
204 East 23rd street
New York NY 10010
